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May 2023: Indigenous
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Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. 4.5 Stars
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This is an excellent review Betty! This book had a strong impact on me. It was very eye opening. I thought the FBI part of the story was interesting too, and I want to read more by this author. There was a massacre of a rich black community in Tulsa around 100 years ago too. It was another example of white people in Oklahoma who hated seeing non-whites getting rich for any reason. It made them mad enough to kill.
Great review, Betty. I loved this book.
Great review, Betty ... David Grann has a new book out - The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
I really enjoyed this book. Thanks for the review.
This nonfiction book is about the systemic murder of members of the Osage Indian tribe in Oklahoma. They once occupied vast lands through the central part of the country, but were betrayed by the US government on several occasions. They were forced to relocate a number of times, finally ending up in Oklahoma, where a chief noted that they would be safe, as no white main would want this land. When negotiating the land settlement, each full blooded tribe member was given a track of land including all mineral rights. This headright, as it was called, could not be sold and could only be inherited. This seemed like a straightforward story of Indian oppression, but then some of the riches deposits of oil were discovered under the occupied land. Thus begins a story of theft, systemic murder, betrayal, corruption, fear, and sorrow. That this conspiracy of theft, terror, and genocide helped launch the career of J. Edgar Hoover and the birth of the FBI , only adds an additional ugly dimension to the story.
This book is ultimately horrifying and heartbreaking, as so few were brought to justice As time revealed, it became apparent that the killing started years before the murders central to this story, and continued until the oil was depleted, and prices fell drastically. At the conclusion of the trials and prosecutions, it was believed that the perpetuators were limited in number. However, subsequent investigations now suspect that the number of deaths were more likely in the hundreds. The individual criminal perpetrators and the vast crime networks will never be brought to justice. This is a true case of the failure of our government, law enforcement, the judicial system and many others. What is sad, is that the tribes are still being exploited. Wind turbines are now being placed through the owned land. Fought in legal battles, it has been determined that the placement of above ground structures does not violate the original headright, which only covers the underground mineral rights. This battle is still being fought in the courts.
This book also contains many wonderful and fascinating photographs of those involved, giving a very human touch to both the victims, law enforcement, and the criminals involved.
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